Slivers of blue crystals with golden specs embedded within them trembled, sporadically clicking against the wooden panels. Confused murmurs resonated around the shop as pairs of eyes gazed at the gemstones. Tanami held her hand out before curling her fingers into a tight fist. The second she did so, the lapis lazuli shards collided harshly. Their broken edges fitted into each other naturally, creating another barrier that protected her and her new companion.

She wished he was not shivering as much as he did. Was this his first time down here or something?

While bewilderment still hung heavily in the air, the teenager snapped her fingers. A light hum drawled itself from her lips as she felt the materialization of zircon appear above the Villains. The image in her mind faded as curled spirals dangled from her mental grasp. The jagged tips were pointed down, ready to descend upon them like droplets of rain. A thought crossed her mind, but she dismissed it quickly.

There was no point in doing that yet. She glanced at the blue-haired male sitting beside her for a split second. Narrowing her eyes into a slight glare, she raised one finger to her lips. Then, she jabbed her thumb behind her before drawing it across her throat. All he did was nod fearfully. Whether it was because of her or the group in the shop, she did not care.

Silently, she drew in a deep breath through her nostrils. With her hand still gripping the katana's scabbard, Tanami pressed the end of it to the floor. "You know it isn't nice to attack a shop with innocent people inside. Not that it means much to you, right?"

"Says the one hiding like a coward?" A masculine voice retorted with a bit of spite.

"I don't fancy the idea of getting hit with a couple of bullets. Why would I walk out with a target on my back? I'm certain you wouldn't have wanted to talk it out now." A flick of her wrist and one of the crystal's tips pressed against the throat of the man. "You want to see who's faster? My crystal or your bullet?"

The man's head tilted back, exposing his neck as the sharp piece of zircon pressed against his skin. As a tease, Tanami's lips twitched as a droplet of blood trickled from the man's throat. Her thumb tapped against the scabbard. "Though I doubt you would be able to pull the trigger fast enough before hitting the ground. The same goes with your lackeys. I have no time for simple trifles, you know. Time passes so fast, and the night dwindles quickly."

Releasing a sharp breath, the crystal rose from her knelt position. Before her body was fully revealed, she sent a warning glare at the unfortunate teen beside her. He better keep his mouth shut because she was unsure who would get to him first if he did. From the looks of it, he did not have any semblance of muscle or training. He was shaped like a noodle, for lack of a better word. If he was looking for circuit boards, perhaps he was intelligent, but smarts can only get you so far.

Threading her free fingers through her enstatite hair, the girl stared intently at the ringleader with a smirk dancing upon her lips. "Surrender?"

"In your dreams, little girl. Why should I listen to a wench?" The man spat, strands of muted scarlet hair falling into his viridian eyes.

"Oh," she hummed to mask the scowl threatening to appear. Her hand twitched, the feeling to dig a single needle through the man's skin arising. But she could not do that. She has yet to take another's life, and she was not going to start here in the depths of the despicable. "Confident for a man with a needle against his throat."

"You're just barking with no bite, little girl. Move aside, and maybe I'll let you go. A girl your age will sell high in the Abysm."

If it were not for the pair of gloves she was wearing, Tanami was sure the man would have been able to see the whiteness of her knuckles. Her jaw locked, although it was not out of fear. No, it was her trying to keep the needle steady and not allow her emotions to make a decision without logic.

Move without a sound. You should only speak when it's time to say checkmate. Tanami recalled the phrase that defined her life in the last year. There was no need to rush, nor did she need to entertain the man as he continuously insulted her. She has heard worst, but Decadence was more than happy to knock them down a peg. But zie was not here, and Tanami could not take a harsh risk lest she wanted a blade pressed against her windpipe.

She twirled the katana in her hand, feeling the indents of the vines against her knuckles. However, she kept her gaze steady and unwavering. A strained chuckle was what she replied with. "Bold of you to assume that you'd win. You're not all that brilliant or scary as you place yourself to be. I've seen far worse. Far scarier."

For a moment, the single paper crane locked away in a drawer back at the base flashed in her mind. The words inscribed were burned into the material, and not a single thing could erase it. Neither could the flash of gold eyes that seemed to gaze at her through her peripheral vision.

"So," she pointed the handle toward the male. A smile slithered onto her lips. "You think you can win if you have multiple people by your side? What if you have no pawns to spare?"

Her fingers snapped, and the spirals descended. A swipe of her hand forced the crystals to slam against their temples. The sound of bodies collapsing in heaps sounded like music in her ears. The teenager grinned as a sense of victory flooded her veins. "Checkmate? Or do you want to play another round?"

"Why you-! Where's Arcane? I have business with her, not you!"

"How should I know? I'm a buyer, not a seller. And as a buyer, I don't like my transactions being delayed by the likes of you. Shut your mouth unless you want to end up like the rest of your lackeys." The back of Tanami's heel connected with the front of the wooden counter. The thud hid the noise of surprise escaping from the teenager hiding behind. She nearly allowed a frown to pull at her lips because of it. Why was he so jumpy?

But the man in front of her did have a point. Where the hell was Arcane? She went into the back and had not reappeared. Her nails dug into the scabbard. If Arcane knew that her shop would get robbed, did she leave through a backway? No, that should not be right. Arcane was sly with her deals, but she was not one to flee when something was troubling. Did someone get to her already?

"Done talking?" Tanami inquired.

"Enough of your arrogance!"

"Arrogance?" She could not help the chortle that escaped her. Her features nearly scrunched up in disbelief. "I'm the arrogant one now? Call me wary, not arrogant, nor am I confident. I came to buy stuff. Not to tousle with some miscreant. Don't make my mood worse. Unless you do want to see how I bite?"

Despite her words laced with malice, the teenager was hoping the man would just shut up. She has already wasted enough time by now and may not even walk out of here with the stuff she needed to buy. It felt like her patience was chipping away ever so slowly. Chamaeleon mentioned she was temperamental, especially when things were dragging out too long. Right now, she was not sure if she wanted to prove him right.

The crystal spirals she created had embedded themselves into the ground, denting the wooden panels with chips of broken gemstones. Even if they seemed lifeless, the nonexistent string of her control was still tightly weaved around them. If someone were to make a move on her, they would not make it in time. Like right now.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the slight movement of a hand. Her fingers curled into a fist, and the twinkling slash of viridian made itself known. Crawling up the man's arm like a snake enveloping its prey, the gun and the man's hand were encased in jadeite. A harsh grunt was the noise the red-haired male made.

"I thought I told you I have no time for games." The girl glared at him through slits while her voice was glazed over in ice. "I won't repeat it again."

"A game? Oh, Caeli, come on! There's always time for games. Especially if your opponent is a pretty girl like me!" A disembodied voice chirped with glee and with it, signaling her presence.

Pricks of heated needles seemed to dig into the back of the teenager's eyes as a pulsation of pain attacked her temples. Great. Now she has a headache on top of everything else. Tanami absolutely loathed the Deep and everything that could be found inside it. Her annoyed tone did not change one bit. "Thank you for finally arriving, Arcane. I believe you have a mess to clean up."

The black-haired woman carefully placed a small crate filled with what Tanami assumed were circuit boards. The corners of the crate banged against the wooden surface, but Arcane just hummed a sweet tune under her breath. Brushing her hands against her black skirt, she glanced at the two with a cheerful smile plastered across her face. She ignored the male hiding on the ground next to her.

Arcane's eye lit up at the sight of the man. "You're... Lux! I remember you!"

"Arcane," the man seethed. "About time. Get your little lap dog to calm down."

"Lap dog?" The crystal eyes widened in the slightest before settling into a glower. The needle left a small scratch across his throat, only to allow a drop of blood to fall. "Stop comparing me to a mutt. I'm not the one yipping like a chihuahua and causing a ruckus. So shut your mouth before I shut it for you. Can I have what I want, Arcane? Then I can go and leave you two to your fighting."

"Caeli, you're really going to leave me with some brute? He's muscular sure, but I like lean types better! Like, you're cute and all, but you're young, so all I can do is call you adorable! Now that I've complimented you, can you stick around for fifteen minutes? I need someone to protect me!" Arcane pressed a hand to her chest and tilted her head. "Pretty please?"

"Give me what I want for the price I asked for," Tanami retorted. She never tore her gaze away from the man. His name was Lux, right? An interesting choice but one she could not care about. "And I'll stick around. It's hard to find a person who keeps their word such as you."

The woman's hand disappeared behind the counter. "Thirty-five, and I'll include the katana. You've looked into it, haven't you, Caeli?"

"Fifteen minutes? No more, no less."

Arcane laughed in delight. Her laughter sounded like bell chimes, and a shiver racked Tanami's spine. A bout of dread clawed at her insides, but she kept her face calm. She could not show the fear that wanted to grab ahold of her. They are not here. They would not come here, not after all this time.

"Great! All right, Lux, what seems to be the problem? You seem quite hostile, and it isn't very nice! Just look at what you did to my windows! My poor, poor windows... What did they ever do to you?" Strands of black hair swept across the surface of the countertop as Arcane propped both of her elbows on the table. Placed in from of her was a deck of cards.

"You already know! The deal with Cheryl! You know what was going to happen!"

"Cheryl? Cheryl, Cheryl... I don't know that name, Lux. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"Delphic's little pawn! Ring a bell? The deal with the vials of Trigger! You caused me to lose a quarter of my men because you refused to sell any to me!"

That name again? Delphic seems to be stirring up many conversations. Who is he? The crystal thought as she watched the exchange between the merchant and the villain. Both continued back and forth, with the latter becoming more and more frustrated as time passed. If it was not for Tanami's crystalline needle at his throat, she was confident that he would have lunged at Arcane.

"Sorry about that but I have to go with the better deal! Delphic offered me a better deal, Lux! If you want something from me, then you're going to have to pay the price! I'm sorry you don't think the same, but I have to make money!" Pressing her fingertips together, a grin adorned the woman's face. "I'm sorry if you lost your men, but I've done nothing but make deals!"

"Scammer!"

"You're so mean! All my prices are fair, and I sell the best quality! Tell me, dear customer! How may I soothe your anger?"

Tanami was not sure if Arcane was being serious or if the cheery woman was trying to get herself killed. But the teenager could not even understand how Arcane could be so full of life, so full of glee, and so caring and not bat an eye. Tanami was once like that too. Bratty but cheerful and wanted to help others. She could not say the same now. She was a shadow of her old self, and frankly, she liked it. Naivety brought her here. It would not take her out as well.

"Fine! If you want to compromise. Give me the rest of your vials of Trigger." Lux demanded harshly. His eyes turned into slits, revealing the slight glow of green irises. "Take your fucking crystals down."

"You think you have the right to give me orders?" The teenager scoffed as she fiddled with the end of her enstatite hair. The edges of her lips twisted into a smirk. "News flash, I've already made a deal with Arcane for those."

Lux's free hand began to rise, but the slam of a spiral into his knuckles was enough to force it at his side. However, that did not save Tanami from a chilled glower sent her way. All she did was chuckle at his predicament. "Try me. Who do you think would win in a fight between the two of us? You don't have any henchman to help you out, and given that you haven't used your Quirk, I'd say it doesn't give you a fighting advantage."

His eye twitched, but his lips stayed sealed shut as the needle teasingly pressed against his throat. Tanami took a step forward, scrutinizing the taller male for any sign of retaliation. She jabbed the handle of the katana against his chest. A flurry of pride blossomed in her chest. "Checkmate."

"Actually," the drumming of fingernails echoed in the shop. "Dear Lux, how much would you offer?"

"More than this little girl." The red-haired male spat into the teenager's face.

Tanami's nose scrunched up as she wiped the saliva away with her thumb. The feeling of disgust rattled the girl's bones and tainted her whole, even if the substance was no longer on her skin. "You better have no diseases. And you, don't we have a deal?"

"Scared of germs, kid? Typical." Lux laughed, chest rumbling from the action.

If the man released a grunt from Tanami nailing her heel into his toes, she ignored it and slammed the katana on the countertop. Viridian eyes narrowed at the merchant with irritation laced in the hues. "So help me if you decide to-"

"Lux, dear. I'll go with your deal if you can beat me in a game of concentration! If not, then how about you owe me a favor? Sound fair? You've got nothing to lose." Arcane's fingers drummed against the deck of cards as she gestured to herself. Like always, her smile never wavered, and her friendliness was not a facade.

That did not mean that Tanami was not suspicious. Arcane was not one to suddenly change her mind on deals. The merchant was up to something, and it had something to do with those cards. She just hoped that Arcane decided not to bail out at the last minute. Otherwise, they were going to have a problem. And the teenager did not want to do something stupid.

But what the hell was concentration?

"Caeli, let the man go already—no need to add salt to the wound. Don't worry about getting attacked now! A deal is a deal!" The merchant's fingers fiddled through the stack of cards and revealed the intricate pattern on their backsides.

Tilting his head back, the scarlet-haired man released a gruff. "You heard the woman. Let me go, wench."

"You're not going to stay and shoot me? You seemed very determined to put a bullet in me." The girl responded. She put a hand on her hip and placed all her weight on her right leg. A grim frown pulled at her lips. "Don't blame me for not being trusting. Also, enough calling me 'wench.' Refer to me as Caeli."

A simple glance from Arcane refuted the crystal's words. Releasing a sigh through her nostrils, Tanami felt a short pulse against her temples. Nonetheless, she snapped her fingers. Fractures threaded through the jadeite surrounding the man's hand and collapsed to the ground in a heap of clinks. The needle pulled away. However, she kept the gun encased in the gemstone and happily smiled at the confusion on Lux's expression.

"I told you. I don't trust you. Don't be so surprised now." The girl leaned back onto the counter, and her spine rested on the edge. She curled her finger toward her, and the crystal-cased gun floated above her head. It landed behind the counter, clattering against the ground. She did not miss the harsh scowl the man gave her, not the attempt to jab at her ribs.

With the deck in her hand, she plucked one up and flipped it over to reveal a black heart. Her nail pressed against it and slid it over to the green-eyed man. "Dear customer, do you know how to play concentration?"

"Matching cards. The one with the higher amount wins the game. Memorization and luck are what determines the victors."

"Correct!" She splayed out the cards across the counter's surface—various cards with numbers and different symbols in black and red. A total of fifty-two cards were shown and scrambled before the woman flipped them back to conceal the symbols. Her fingers dragged down one of the cards as she leaned forward. "Remember, dear customer, and if I win, you owe me a favor! If not, I suppose I have to give you my vials of Trigger and beg Caeli for forgiveness!"

Tanami was about ninety percent certain she would steal the Trigger vials at this point.

Her eyes flicked over to Arcane. "You better win."

"Don't worry, darling! I'm very good at gambling!"

Tanami was not familiar with any forms of gambling. Sure she played a bit of go fish with Chamaeleon whenever they had free time, but other than that, she was clueless. Poker, concentration, blackjack, whatever it was, it made little sense to her. Concentration seemed pretty easy, considering you only had to flip cards over for matches. It would be a game of luck for both parties.

It seemed like a fair trade. But Tanami was wrong. Very, very wrong. She knew Arcane was up to something when she proposed the game, but she never expected it to be so one-sided.

Twenty-two out of the twenty-six pairs were placed on Arcane's side, each perfectly matched without a flaw. In between her fingers was a queen, and she looked semi-surprised at it. "Oh, this means the game is over since I have the final card! Dear Lux, I believe you need to hold up your end of the bargain!"

"What?" The Villain glanced over his three pairs before his head snapped up. His features twisted into a vicious scowl. "Cheater! You proposed this so you could win!"

"Cheat?" The black-haired woman stepped back as she gasped in disbelief. Her lips scrunched up into a pout once she settled. "I've done no such thing! I would never! It's dishonorable even to think so! Here I am being so gracious to you because you've damaged my shop and even said such mean words to Caeli! I've brushed it aside because I'm such a nice and pretty lady!"

Slamming his hand against the counter, Lux lowered himself at the waist to meet Arcane's gaze. Her carefree scarlet eyes met with his burning viridian ones, but she did not flinch. She tilted her head innocently and brandished a smile. "Keep the end of your deal now! And take your little henchmen too! I don't want to clean out unconscious bodies! I don't want my nails to chip!"

He sneered, balling his fists until his knuckles turned a stark white. "Fucking fine. I should have known better than to strike up a deal with a merchant. But you better watch out, Arcane. You never know when you'll meet your match!"

Those final words stayed in the air as the man exited the shop. You could hear him grumbling curses as he did. Tanami watched his retreating figure for a while, wondering if he would try to pull anything. Luckily for them, Lux did no such thing besides leaving behind his unconscious men. She was not exactly sure what Arcane would do with them, but Tanami was not helping her with that.

"Customer hiding right next to me? You can get up now. That mean brute is gone!"

Standing up abruptly, the male that Tanami had hid behind there resurfaced. Beads of sweat were trickling down his face while the wooden arms behind him snapped at the air. A flash of surprise crossed the crystal's face. She had forgotten she had shoved him down there.

"So," Arcane swerved to look at him. "Circuit boards, right? Here they are! Sorry for the disturbance!"

The blue-haired teenager swallowed harshly and nodded. Hesitantly, he skimmed over the fallen bodies, shards of broken glass, and remnants of gemstones. "N-not a problem."

A snort left Tanami. The other teen was trembling like a leaf in winter. How did someone like him manage to venture into the Deep? He should have stayed in the Shallow. But that was not her concern. "Arcane, my vials?"

"Coming up, Caeli!"

· ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Author's Note:

All of you don't understand how fun writing Arcane is. Like she's annoying but a fun annoying to write. Junpei is annoying annoying to write but not Arcane. Do you think she's creepy? My friend told me she sounds creepy. But weirdly enough, she's like a breath of fresh air compared to all the pessimistic thoughts going around. On another note, Decadence and Chamaeleon have rubbed off on Tanami. You'll see soon.

Also, I haven't updated this book in like two weeks, but I was working on Eye of the Beholder, a short story about Akihiko if you're curious. It has six chapters if you want to read that.

Character Spotlight:

Name: Arcane

Quirk: Place Your Bet

Like: Money